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Monday, July 9, 2012

Bodega Norton 2008 Reserva Malbec, Mendoza

The prospect of finding a good deal on a great bottle of Malbec is always enticing. As we were driving back from the Cleveland area, we stopped at World Market in Avon to view their wines. World Market has some great values and we find wines there not typically offered by distributors in the Toledo area.

When I saw this 2008 Norton Malbec Reserva for only $11, I pounced. During a recent evening with friends, we uncorked it.

I would categorize this as a sturdy, serviceable Malbec, but not one that triggers an explosion of fireworks.

The wine offers a deep jammy bouquet. It’s smooth on the palate but doesn’t deliver on the promise of big, rich fruit. The flavor notes are of blackberries and toast. While the flavors were pleasing, it wasn’t complex. The finish was short to medium in length.

This is a fine Malbec, but I was expecting more based on reviews and ratings.